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Bounty fundraiser at Pirate fest

The St. Augustine Pirate Gathering, which continues today at Francis Field downtown, has one somber component to an otherwise jovial affair: a memorial to the HMS Bounty, which sank off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., on Oct. 29 in Hurricane Sandy, and a fundraising effort to benefit the families of the crew.

“We love these people as family,” said Kathy Gilbert of Pirates of the Treasure Coast, a Palm Beach County organization. “We’re here to be a part of the festival, of course, but we’re also here to help the 14 surviving crew members, as well as the families of Claudene Christian and Captain (Robin) Walbridge.”

Christian was rescued after the sinking but died later in a hospital. Walbridge’s body was never recovered.

Gilbert, who was wearing an HMS Bounty T-shirt, is also affiliated with the group, Mutiny With The Bounty.

The group is selling HMS Bounty merchandise and memorabilia, and accepting donations, which will go to the families of Christian and Walbridge, along with the 14 surviving crew members.

Though festival organizers had invited members of the crew to attend the festival, which began on Friday, by Saturday afternoon, none had shown up. Gilbert said she didn’t expect to see any of them, not even St. Augustine resident John Jones, 29, who was one of those rescued.

“I’m not surprised, really,” Gilbert said. “I mean, would you come? It’s too soon, and they’re still recovering, both physically and emotionally. I just hope that we can make a difference in their lives, and we look forward to seeing them in happier times.”

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To donate to HMS Bounty survivors, stop by the Pirates of the Treasure Coast tent at the festival, or go to www.mutinywiththebounty.com.